Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 10 @ 8:00 am - December 12 @ 11:30 pm

Catholic churches in the Diocese of Des Moines will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on or around the feast day of Dec. 12. Bishop Richard Pates will celebrate midnight Mass Tuesday, Dec. 12 at St. Ambrose Cathedral.

The feast is a significant cultural and religious event for Hispanic people as they honor Our Lady of Guadalupe as Patroness of the Americas.

On the morning of Dec. 9, 1531, the Blessed Mother appeared to a Mexican Indian, St. Juan Diego, who was on his way to Mass and catechesis in the Catholic faith. She asked him to go to the local bishop and give him a message to build a temple, identifying herself as Our Lady, the Mother of God. When the bishop did not believe St. Juan Diego’s story she asked him to take a sign to show to the bishop. The sign consisted of roses of all colors, which St. Juan Diego carried on his cloak, or ’tilma.’ The bishop then believed upon seeing the cloak and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image remains clear today and is displayed in a church in Mexico City.

The opportunities for commemoration of the feast day in the diocese are numerous. The following churches have activities planned for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.